Crown Commercial Services (CCS) have issued guidance on the changes in The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 that affect the way in which contracting authorities (i.e. schools, academies and colleges etc) communicate with tenderers during a tender process for contracts above £164,176 in value. The full guidance document can be viewed from Further Education Library of Procurement (FELP), however as a reminder below is a summary of the regulations and the date upon which they apply:

New thresholds for the application of the various public procurement regimes come into force on 1 January 2016. For supply and service contracts awarded by education establishments the new threshold above which the public procurement regime will apply is €209,000, or £164,176, for public works contracts its €5,225,000 or £4,104,394.

We are delighted to share the wonderful news that Mon-Yee Ackers (CPC Management Accounts Officer) and her husband Russell have a new addition to their family, Mon gave birth to Alyssa Mae on Monday 28 December.

We are pleased to inform you that the Mandatory Standstill Period has now passed without challenge and providing we receive the necessary paperwork back from the successful suppliers we are hoping to launch this framework on 11 January 2016.

CPC, CCS and AoC would like to thank all member institutions who kindly completed the recent Survey about Awarding Organisations. The project group were delighted with the number of returned surveys as we received 205 responses containing extremely useful information to help with the project.